Hanuman: Life, Stories and Devotion to Ram

Who Hanuman is

Hanuman is the greatest devotee of Shri Ram and one of the most loved deities in India. He was born to Anjana and the vanara chief Kesari, by the blessing of Vayu, the Wind god, which is why he is called Anjaneya, Kesarinandan, Pavanputra and Maruti. He is also called Bajrangbali, "the strong one with a body like the thunderbolt", and Sankat Mochan, the remover of troubles. Tradition counts him among the chiranjivi, the immortals, who remains on earth wherever Ram's story is told.

Childhood

As a child Hanuman saw the rising sun, took it for a ripe fruit and leapt into the sky to eat it. Indra struck him with the thunderbolt, injuring his jaw (hanu), which gave him his name. Vayu, angered, withdrew and the worlds could not breathe; to pacify him the gods showered the child with boons of strength, wisdom and safety from every weapon. Because he troubled the sages with his pranks, he was also given a gentle curse: he would forget his own powers until someone reminded him of them.

Meeting Ram

He met Ram and Lakshmana near Lake Pampa as the minister of Sugriva, and Ram at once praised his flawless speech. Hanuman brought Ram and Sugriva together; see the Kishkindha Kanda. On the seashore, reminded of his strength by Jambavan, he grew to the size of a mountain.

The leap to Lanka

The Sundara Kanda belongs to him. He crossed the ocean, searched Lanka through the night, found Sita in the Ashoka grove, gave her Ram's ring, faced Ravana in open court, burned the city with his own flaming tail and returned with her message.

The Sanjeevani mountain

When Lakshmana fell in battle, the physician Sushena said only a herb from a Himalayan peak could save him, and only before sunrise. Hanuman flew north, could not tell which plant it was, and brought the whole mountain. The image of Hanuman in flight with a mountain on his palm is one of the best known in Indian art. See the Yuddha Kanda.

After the war

At Ram's coronation, tradition tells, he opened his chest to show Ram and Sita dwelling in his heart. He asked for nothing but to serve. In Ayodhya it is said that Ram, before leaving the world, made Hanuman the guardian of the city. That is why pilgrims go first to Hanuman Garhi and seek his leave before the darshan of Ram Lalla at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir.

Worship

Tuesdays and Saturdays are his special days. Devotees recite the Hanuman Chalisa, the forty verses composed by Goswami Tulsidas, and the Sundara Kanda, particularly in times of fear, illness or difficulty. Hanuman Jayanti, his birth festival, is observed on different dates in different regions.

What Hanuman teaches

• Strength is for service. He had more power than anyone in the epic and used all of it for another's cause.
• Take no credit. See Humility and service.
• Finish the task before resting.
• Be gentle with the suffering and fearless before the arrogant.
• You may be stronger than you remember. Sometimes all that is needed is a reminder.